Neither of the Chargers’ top two 2017 draft picks are healthy, but the offense still represents a clear improvement over last season’s iteration. The most important change may be the return of Keenan Allen, one of the game’s elite receivers when healthy. After missing most of the past two seasons with a torn ACL and a lacerated kidney, he returns as part of a deep receiving corps that gives Philip Rivers plenty of field-stretching options — even if No. 7 overall pick Mike Williams still isn’t practicing. The Broncos have slowly shed players from their Super Bowl defense — defensive end Malik Jackson, linebackers DeMarcus Ware and Danny Trevathan, safety T.J. Ward — but this should still be one of the league’s top units. Cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Chris Harris Jr. have seven combined Pro Bowl nods, and linebacker Von Miller will be in the running for NFL Defensive Player of the Year. EDGE: BRONCOS

BRONCOS OFFENSE vs. CHARGERS DEFENSE

The Chargers’ biggest offseason move was signing Melvin Ingram to a long-term deal, thereby locking down one of the league’s top pass-rushing duos for the next several years. Ingram and Joey Bosa, the reigning NFL Defensive Rookie of the Year, will create chaos in opposing backfields — and this year, they get to do it with two Pro Bowl corners behind them.

Casey Hayward and Jason Verrett have yet to play a full season together, with the latter tearing his ACL last October. Verrett only played two series in the preseason, so the Chargers may limit his snap count in Week 1. The Broncos have weapons on the outside in Demaryius Thomas and Emmanuel Sanders — but Trevor Siemian, the weakest starting quarterback in the division, is working behind an unproven offensive line. EDGE: CHARGERS

SPECIAL TEAMS

The Chargers ranked near the bottom of the league in kick and punt returns last year, lacking good options after a knee injury slowed receiver Travis Benjamin. Benjamin looks primed to take the latter duties, while Austin Ekeler — a smooth-running undrafted rookie out of Western State Colorado — is slated to return kickoffs. Younghoe Koo displaced Josh Lambo for kicking duties, but the former Lou Groza Award finalist didn’t fare noticeably better on preseason field goal attempts. Denver was only middling on returns last season, but Riley Dixon set an NFL rookie record for net punting average (41.3 yards). EDGE: BRONCOS

COACHING

Two decades ago, Anthony Lynn and Vance Joseph were neighbors in the Denver suburb of Aurora — living in houses with adjacent backyards. On Monday, they will stand on the same field as they make their regular-season debuts as NFL head coaches. Both have built reputations for being smart and methodical, earning their chances to lead a team despite limited experience as offensive and defensive coordinators. And both have decided to hire seasoned assistants to lean on: Lynn brought in Gus Bradley, recently head coach in Jacksonville, to run his defense; Joseph hired Mike McCoy, recently head coach in San Diego, to run his offense. EDGE: EVEN

INTANGIBLES

The Chargers may have slightly more to prove. They have underperformed in recent years, winning just nine games in the last two seasons — the franchise’s losingest stretch since the turn of the millennium. That’s a legacy that Lynn and company will be eager to shed, particularly given the recent relocation to Los Angeles. But Denver remains one of the toughest places to play in the league, and altitude could get to some of the Chargers late in a close game. EDGE: BRONCOS

MATCHUP TO WATCH

Chargers right tackle Joe Barksdale vs. Broncos linebacker Von Miller: Miller might be the game’s top defensive player — even if he’s never won the hardware to prove it. Denver’s strongside linebacker has racked up 73.5 sacks since he entered the league in 2011, clearing double digits every year except an injury-shortened season in 2013. Barksdale, meanwhile, is one of the few holdovers from a dramatically reshaped offensive line. He isn’t among the game’s elite linemen, but has started all but one game since signing with the Chargers two years ago.

PREDICTION

The Chargers haven’t won in Denver since 2013, which is also the last time they made the playoffs. But on paper, this is a team that has high-end talent on both offense and defense. It also enters the season in good health. Preseason struggles exposed lack of depth on the roster, but that problem won’t become glaring unless — or until — the team gets hit by injuries. With elite pass rushers and a pair of Pro Bowl corners, the defense could create havoc for Siemian. Chargers 24, Broncos 21

Jack Wang covers the Chargers, the latest NFL team to relocate to Los Angeles. He previously covered the Rams, and also spent four years on the UCLA beat, a strange period in which the Bruins' football program often outpaced their basketball team. He is a proud graduate of UC Berkeley, where he spent most of his time in The Daily Californian offices in Eshleman Hall — a building that did not become earthquake-safe until after his time on campus.

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